Celebrating Alumni at REUNION WEEKEND 2016

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY

fall 2016

BUCKEYEOPTOMETRYA L U M N I M A G A Z I N E

on the cover: Michael Earley (OD/MS’88, PhD’92) and Roger Saneholtz (OD'74) enjoying the Alumni Reception at Huntington Park

President Treasurer Vince Driggs (OD’85) Chris Smiley (OD’01)

The Ohio State University College of Optometry Alumni Society is a chartered alumni society of The Ohio State University Alumni Association, Inc.

optometry.osu.eduBack copies of the BuckEYE can be found at: go.osu.edu/buckeyemag

Editor Jeffrey A. Myers (OD’84)

Dean Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD

Contributing Editor & Faculty Liaison Michael Earley (OD/MS’88, PhD’92)

Contributing Editor Barbara Fink (OD, MS’85, PhD’87)

Director of Marketing and Communications Sarah Cupples, MA

Contributing Editor Jen Bennett, MSEd

Senior Graphic Designer Kerri McTigue

Contributing Editor Robert D. Newcomb (OD’71, MPH)

Alumni Coordinator Michael Haddock

Contributing Editor Gil Pierce (OD’89, MS’92, PhD’94)

Instructional and Web Development Specialist Dave Moore

Director of Development Rachel Childress

Program Assistant Courtney Michard

Ohio State University College of Optometry Alumni Society

BuckEYE Magazine Production Team

OSU Alumni Association Director of Alumni Societies

Craig Little

The Alumni Magazine is published by The Ohio State University College of

Optometry Alumni Society.

Please send alumni news and other communication to:

The Ohio State University College of Optometry Alumni Society

338 West Tenth Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43210-1280

haddock.15@osu.edu

Phone: (614) 292-4451

Fax: (614) 292-4705

Board Members Stephanie Baxter (OD’08) James Bieber (BS’64, OD’68)

Sylvia Jones (OD/MS’06) Robert D. Newcomb (OD’71, MPH)Joe Studebaker (OD’87)

Optometry Representative,Alumni Advisory Council Roger Saneholtz (OD’74)

Letter from the Dean . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Letter from the Alumni President. . 5

Letter from the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Alumni Focus: Dr. Saneholtz . . . . . 7

Remembering Dr. Hebbard . . . . . 10

Young ODs: Dr. Molly McDonald and Dr. Lauren Haverly . . . . . . . . . 12

Welcome Class of 2020 . . . . . . . . 15

Westheimer Lecture . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

I-DOC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

2016 Myers Lecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

College Renovations . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Research Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Development: But For Ohio State Campaign . . . 24

Development: Why We Give . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Alumni Reunion Weekend . . . . . .28

Alumni News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

ALUMNI FOCUS: Roger Saneholtz (ODʼ74) pg. 7

MYERS LECTURE 2016 pg. 20

WELCOME CLASS OF 2020! pg. 15

Alumni Reunion Weekend pg. 28

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OPTOMETRY ALUMNI MAGAZINE 3

The end of September/beginning of October were busy at Ohio State. The “But for Ohio State…” capital campaign ended. The campus celebrated a traditional homecoming weekend.

Celebrations of the Optometry Classes of 2006, 2001, 1986, 1976, and 1971 were held all over Columbus. Friendships were renewed, maintained, and initiated.

The quote above was from an Ohio State undergraduate dance major who spoke at “A Night on the Oval” to celebrate the end of the campaign. Kurt and I were fortunate to be invited, along with Bruce (OD’81) and Joanne Manning, Jeff (OD’84) and Joyce Myers, Rick Weisbarth (OD’80), Bob Wright (BS’60) and Esther Thompson, Ohio Optometric Association Executive Director Keith

Kerns, and Mike (OD/MS’88, PhD’92) and Tracy Earley. There was a full band and Brutus dancing in a black sequined tuxedo to a swing band. It was announced that the $2.5-billion “But for Ohio State…” campaign goal had been exceeded—with a total of more than $3.004 billion raised. Not bad for a public, land-grant university.

The highlights of the evening, though, were four undergraduate students who talked about their Ohio State experiences. An aspiring astronaut described advances and setbacks. A cancer researcher reminisced about a locked lab door that cost his group a two-month delay. A student in the military talked about her nearly lifelong dream of becoming an officer. All gave TED Talk-style presentations, were dressed in some riff on scarlet and gray, and were professionally illuminated and amplified. The star of the evening, though, in my opinion, was the dancer. She talked about a Study Abroad experience in Costa Rica with a demanding choreographer who stretched her expectations of herself. She talked about practice, sore muscles, aching joints, and endless hours of rehearsal. She talked about knowing herself and giving her all to the creativity of the experience, up to a point—the start of the dance—when all the rehearsal yields to the moment.

It made me think about the experience of training to become a doctor of optometry. You study and practice and sit for your classmates’ rehearsals. (I swear I spent a year of my life in optometry school with one pupil dilated.) You head for home some nights bone tired. When the moment comes—the first patient ever, the first patient with a particular complaint or a certain limitation to respond, the youngest child, the oldest adult—you yield to the moment. All your preparation pays off, but you also rely on your memory, your critical thinking skills, your ability to communicate, and your creativity. You may not be propelling yourself across a stage with taut muscles and pointed toes, but you find yourself poised and alert, engaged and thinking. The patient gets your very best.

Some of you may not know that I write some kind of essay and distribute it to the college at the beginning of every month. It always begins with a quotation, and, when I get it right, it touches a nerve or inspires an action or provides reassurance. Some months a few people even let me know when I do get it right. When I wrote about the young dancer in early October, I heard back from Professor of Clinical Optometry Roanne Flom, OD, who emailed me, “This beautifully captures the excitement and brilliance of bringing expertise to disentangle the mysteries that hold the secrets to changing our patients’ lives. One could dedicate one’s life to this!” Coming from Roanne—someone who has dedicated her expertise and her life to patients with visual impairment—her email was the highest praise. We all disentangle mysteries and change patients’ lives every day.

Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD Dean Glenn A. Fry Professor in Optometry and Physiological Optics

DEAN’S LETTER

“You can only control the dance until the dance starts.” –Anonymous

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PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Fall 2016

Hello, fellow Buckeyes!

I should begin with an introduction. My name is Vince Driggs (OD’85), and at the Alumni Society’s recent annual meeting over Homecoming Weekend, I was elected to take over for our retiring President Roger Saneholtz (OD’74). While I am both excited and humbled by the opportunity, I must admit that I feel as if I had better start buying my shoes in a much larger size to try to follow in Roger’s footsteps.

A little background information. After graduating, I did a VA Residency under Robert “Buckeye Bob” Newcomb (OD’71, MPH) at the Columbus VA, and Jim Thimons (OD’78) and William “Wild Bill” Schuller (BS’65, OD, MPH) at the Chillicothe VAMC. I then took a one-year clinical position at the college, which turned into 15 years as a clinical faculty member. Since 2001, I have been a full-time staff optometrist for the Department of Veterans Affairs, first in the Cleveland

area at the Brecksville and Parma clinics. Most recently I came full circle when I was fortunate enough to return to central Ohio with the Columbus VA starting in April of this year.

It should be noted that all of my VA sites served as Ohio State Optometry-affiliated extern and residency locations. The constant in this winding path is that I have always been in positions that afforded me the opportunity, and the privilege, of working with the students of the college, which I have always truly enjoyed. It is this involvement with the students that also was one of the reasons I was drawn to our Alumni Society, as the Society has always strived to support our future alumni.

I am also looking forward to promoting the College of Optometry at the university level, where I undoubtedly will lean heavily on the broad shoulders of Jeff Myers (OD’84) and Bob Newcomb. Their work heading up our Awards Committee has been invaluable to our Society. Over the past five to ten years, alumni of our college have been recipients of the some of the highest awards accorded by Ohio State to its alumni. Coupled with the work of Roger Saneholtz in his dual role as Optometry Representative to the Alumni Advisory Council – like I said, big shoes, really big shoes – Optometry is extremely well received by The Ohio State University Alumni Association. It will be our job moving forward to both maintain, and indeed, further enhance our positive standing.

We do face challenges as we move forward, including adapting to our still relatively new donations-based membership model (compared to the annual dues-based model used in the past). We are lucky to have an incredibly supportive Dean, Karla Zadnik, with whom to work as we move forward with our new operating model. In addition, we just elected two new members to the Board, Sylvia Jones (OD/MS’06) and Joseph Studebaker (OD’87), and we look forward to adding their fresh viewpoints to our Society.

Most important, the Society should be serving you, its members. If you have any ideas or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us.

To close, I want to emphasize that we all owe retiring President Roger Saneholtz a great deal of gratitude for the tremendous time and effort he has given our Society over the past 10 years as our leader, not to mention an additional 10-plus years as treasurer and board member. His dedication and work ethic are to be congratulated, and he will be sorely missed.

With that, I will say goodbye until next issue and, always …

Go Bucks!

Vincent L. Driggs (OD’85) President, Ohio State Optometry Alumni Society

OPTOMETRY ALUMNI MAGAZINE 5

Consistently Inconsistent

Most of the time, I skip eating lunch. This non-patient time is often used to catch up on post-op reports, plan for future testing for patients, meet with members of the staff on specific issues, or make phone calls that will take a little longer than can be done between patients.

Not long ago, I decided to give lunch a try again and thought that purchasing healthy would be a good choice. So, I tried a salad from a nearby pizza place. It was delivered in a large carryout container, with plenty of crackers and represented a good value to me. I decided to repeat the order the next day. This time the order came in a small carryout container, just a couple crackers and a different price. While confused as to what had happened and why the order was so different two days in a row, I did order the same thing a third day in a row. This order came back

in a medium carryout container and a third price. I was baffled. What had impressed me and represented value at the first visit was not carried through on future encounters. My experience was consistently inconsistent.

You may have had a similar experience in life. Perhaps, like me, yours was in relation to a food establishment. Maybe your favorite author delivered a book that was not up to his or her normal standard. It happens when the sequel of a movie does not measure up to the experience of the first, or when that special candy is found at one store, but is missing the next time you go. Perhaps it is your favorite sports team that is inconsistent in its play. Maybe you found a perfect place to view a sunset that was awe-inspiring, but each time you have taken friends or loved ones to share the experience, it just wasn’t the same.

Often, we have heard that it is important to make a great first impression. That is valid. A great first impression goes a long way to securing a patient’s confidence in your efforts. Sometimes we forget that it is vital to sustain that first impression and be consistent. This is not necessarily easy for us or for our staff. Different days, different circumstances, different moods, and just the nature of being a human being all contribute to a natural tendency to be inconsistent.

Strive to be consistent in what you do for patients. Aim for a high-quality level of service. Work every day and with each patient to provide the best care you can in every situation. It takes attention and intention to accomplish this. Make the commitment to do it. Don’t allow yourself to be the example of consistently inconsistent. Be consistently consistent at a high level. Your patients will notice and appreciate it.

Jeffrey A. Myers (OD’84) BuckEYE Editor

EDITOR’S LETTER

Grandson, Sladen, cheering the Buckeyes on to a win over Indiana at his first Ohio State football game.

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ALUMNI FOCUS

MANY THANKS FOR MANY YEARS

By Jeffrey A. Myers (OD’84)

Fellow Buckeye volunteer, Brutus, Jane Saneholtz, and Dr. Roger Saneholtz

It has been said that one should be kind to all optometrists one meets, as you never know how life will go and who might be a potential business partner.

For Optometry Alumni Society Past President Roger Saneholtz (OD’74), it was actually a summer job, delivering fuel for his dad’s business that gave him the opportunity to meet a local optometrist. That man was Morgan Dreffer (BS’37) (father of David Dreffer (BS’63, OD’68)). Little did Dr. Saneholtz know in his teens that the man he admired owned the practice that he would own.

Dr. Saneholtz grew up in Montpelier, Ohio, making the decision to pursue optometry as a career during his sophomore year at Montpelier High School. He only applied to Ohio State for undergrad and the College of Optometry for professional school. While he had never had an eye exam himself, his laser-focused educational objective was met by being accepted at Ohio State for undergrad and professional school.

OPTOMETRY ALUMNI MAGAZINE 7

Dean Emeritus Frederick Hebbard commented that Dr. Saneholtz might have been one of the youngest graduates of the OD program as a result of graduating from high school early, being admitted to the optometry program after two years of undergraduate work, and having a November birthday. This all contributed to Dr. Saneholtz looking young for a graduating professional. His last patient in his fourth year was a consultant. The patient instructed Dr. Saneholtz to choose his frame for him, as Dr. Saneholtz was his vision consultant. The purchase was made without the frame being seen by the patient on his face. When the eyewear was delivered, the patient was delighted and offered some counsel. He asked Dr. Saneholtz what his post-graduation plans were. He explained that he had committed to three years in the Air Force. The patient confirmed that was a fine choice. The reason was that because Dr. Saneholtz looked so young, the patient would not have given him a second look as a professional.

His tour was spent at Wurtsmith AFB in Oscoda, Michigan, aggravating numerous Michigan fans with his Ohio State enthusiasm. During this time, he married Jane Denney, whom he had dated since his fourth year in optometry, and they had their first son, Brent. He was discharged as a Captain in 1977. As he was considering practice opportunities, he returned to Montpelier to visit with Dr. Morgan Dreffer. Dr. Morgan’s son, David, had established a practice in Huron, Ohio after a stint in the Navy, and Dr. Morgan’s practice was available. Dr. Saneholtz purchased the practice, and remodeled the 1600-square foot space.

His practice was relatively insulated from third party influence for 20-25 years, partially attributable to its rural position; 60 miles from Ft. Wayne, Indiana and 60 miles from Toledo, Ohio. His service to education began on the school board of the Montpelier City Schools beginning in 1984, including two terms as President. His love for Ohio State was manifest in service to the

Williams County Alumni Club, where he served a term as President. In 1990, Wayne Collier (BS’65) asked him to serve on the Optometry Alumni Society (OAS) board. He thought it would be an interesting way to learn about college-level education administration.

He became Treasurer of OAS in 1992 and served until 2006. During this time, the Society had a change in structure due to interpretation of tax laws. The funds of the former society were placed in a College Endowment Fund and the newly established Optometry Alumni & Friends (OAF) experienced a few lean years before it was able to support college activities.

By 2004, OAF was in a position to contribute $50,000 to the college’s Raise the Roof Campaign. In 2006, Dr. Saneholtz succeeded Richard Marquardt (OD’97) as President of OAF. OAF provided $15,000 - $20,000 of program support to the College each year. These contributions earned President’s Club status for the Society. Dr. Saneholtz learned about the inner workings of the entire Ohio State campus as a member of the Alumni Advisory Council (AAC), a position held by Dr. David Dreffer in the past. His role as President allowed him to represent optometry at Leadership Symposia of the Ohio State University Alumni Association (OSUAA). He reports that his life has been enriched by the friendships of colleagues through OAF work as well as relationships with the AAC representatives across campus.

In 2012, OAF was able to contribute $50,000 to the “But For Ohio State…” Campaign. In 2014, OSUAA greatly encouraged alumni societies to move to dues-donation model for members, rather than a traditional dues model. Other considerations helped make the decision to restructure the Society once again. The name returned to Optometry Alumni Society. Some funds were moved to the college to benefit students. OAF also established a $100,000 endowment for the Dean’s Discretionary Fund. A major challenge in the last couple years has been communicating this dues model to members. His

ALUMNI FOCUS

Dr. Saneholtz during his U.S. Air Force days. Jim Sheedy (OD/MS’74, PhD’77), Roger Saneholtz (OD’74) and Terry Huston (OD’73, PhD)

Joy and Brent Saneholtz, Jane and Roger (OD’74) Saneholtz, and Austin (OD’08) and Christy Saneholtz

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The Saneholtz family

retirement as President became official this fall when Vince Driggs (OD’85) was elected President.

Dr. Saneholtz’s untiring loyalty and faithful dedication to his alma mater have been formally recognized on two occasions. In 2008, he received the Alumni Society Leadership Award from OSUAA. OSUAA recognized him again in 2010 with the Ralph Davenport Mershon Award for exceptional leadership and service to The Ohio State University.

In reflecting on his time serving the Alumni Society for the college, Dr. Saneholtz has served with Deans Richard Hill, OD, PhD; John Schoessler (BS’65, OD’66, MS’68, PhD’71); Mel Shipp, OD, PhD, DrPH; and Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD. He is quick to point out that selecting leaders for educational institutions is challenging, and the college has been incredibly fortunate over the years to have high-quality leadership. He says, “I am extremely grateful to these four individuals who have led our college. Each has been supportive and appreciative of our alumni efforts for the college. They have been especially warm and congenial to my family and me throughout my time of service.”

He is also appreciative of the folks who have served as Campus Alumni Relations Liaisons (CARL) during his tenure. His thanks and a debt of gratitude go to Karen Greene, Gayle Glanville, Kerry Gastineau, and Michael Haddock for their day-to-day support of the optometry alumni. They have been the backbone in getting things done and in keeping the OAS strong and in good standing with OSUAA.

He wishes all alumni could attend the welcome dinner for all first year students as they begin their optometry education. He is proud of the faculty as they introduce the members of the class and express the family feeling of optometry. He delights in the fact that ours is a

teaching faculty and appreciates that his son, Austin Saneholtz (OD’08), had the opportunity to learn from such a talented group.

Dr. Saneholtz and Jane have two sons. Brent graduated from Ohio State in 2004, majoring in communication. He earned a master’s degree in administration and is now a principal with the Bryan (Ohio) City Schools. He is married to Joy, who graduated from Ohio State in 2004 majoring in food sciences. She later earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Mt. Carmel and is a school nurse for Bryan (Ohio) City Schools. They have three boys, Greyson (9), Rowen (6), and Keaton (3). Austin bought his dad’s half of the Montpelier practice and has a practice in Perrysburg as well. He is married to Christy, who graduated from Ohio State in 2010, majoring in early childhood development. They have a daughter, Carmen (3) and son, Barrett (3 months). No shortage of Buckeye allegiance in those names!

Since retiring in 2015, Roger and Jane have lived in Columbus, a couple blocks south of the college. They reside in a house that was bought with the intention of providing a place for their sons to live while attending Ohio State. As the sons moved on, the couple spent weekends in the home and have made it their home. They enjoy being able to attend all sorts of sporting and campus events at Ohio State.

Congratulations on your retirement as President, Dr. Saneholtz! Many thanks from our alumni for your commitment and sacrifice and taking the time to serve.

Austin (OD’08), Brent, and Roger (OD’74) Saneholtz

OPTOMETRY ALUMNI MAGAZINE 9

IN MEMORIAM: Frederick W. Hebbard, OD, PhD, 1923-2016

Dr. Hebbard grew up in Vallejo, California, and earned his BS (1949), MS (1951), and PhD (1957) degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. He was then recruited by Dr. Fry to join The Ohio State University optometry faculty to do research and clinical activities. He was promoted to Associate Director of the School of Optometry in 1962. When Dr. Fry retired in 1966, he was appointed Director. When the school became a college in January of 1968, Dr. Hebbard was chosen by university officials to serve as its founding dean. During his long tenure, 1,081 Doctors of Optometry and 91 graduate students in physiological optics received their degrees from The Ohio State University.

As a faculty member and administrator, Dr. Hebbard was responsible for many initiatives that helped solidify optometry’s presence and prestige within Ohio State’s comprehensive health sciences campus. Some of those initiatives were:

1. Expanding the five-year curriculum (concluding with

a BS-Optometry degree) to a six-year curriculum (concluding with an OD degree). He designed the doctoral hoods and presided over the first awarding of the OD degree in Ohio Stadium in 1968.

2. Preserving optometry’s independence from the College of Medicine in the mid-1960s when Ohio State’s Department of Ophthalmology proposed that the optometry program be placed under its administrative structure.

3. Guiding the design, construction, and dedication of the new west wing of Fry Hall, which was opened in 1961. Forty-six years later—on February 3, 2007, when four additional floors on top of the original Fry Hall structure were dedicated—the foundation of that original building proved to be strong enough to support 13,000 new assignable square feet of space (the E.F. Wildermuth Optometric Research Clinic).

4. Securing grant support to open an inner-city optometry clinic for underserved citizens in

By Bob Newcomb (OD’71, MPH)

The College of Optometry’s first and longest-serving dean, Dr. Frederick W. Hebbard, died at his home in Upper Arlington on August 14, 2016 at the age of 93. He served as our dean from 1968 to 1988; and during that time, he strengthened both the optometry and the graduate programs that Dr. Glenn A. Fry had established during his long tenure as Director.

COLLEGE NEWS

Frederick Hebbard, OD, PhD with Class of 1968 President Kenneth Gortz (BS’67, OD’68)

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COLLEGE NEWS

Columbus. This clinic was later combined with an innovative optometric technician program at a community college, now known as Columbus State Community College.

5. Acquiring a major portion of the old university hospital, Starling Loving Hall, in 1973, and equipping the new examination rooms with updated equipment. This significantly increased the college’s patient care, teaching, research, and administrative space.

6. Working with the university’s Vice-President for Health Sciences to develop a three-course sequence taught by faculty from the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Optometry, which prepared optometry students to use both Diagnostic and Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents upon their graduation and state licensure. In 1984, when Ohio’s DPA legislation was passed, the college provided continuing education courses on the weekends for practicing ODs, which also prepared them to take the Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease (TMOD) examination and then incorporate DPAs into their practices.

7. Recruited a world-class faculty of luminaries in optometric education, including Neal J. Bailey, Richard M. Hill, J. Boyd Eskridge, Bradford W. Wild (PhD'59), Gerald E. Lowther (BS'66, OD'67, MS'69, PhD'72), John P. Schoessler (BS'65, OD'66, MS'68, PhD'71), Ron Jones (OD, MS'70, PhD'72), Michael Polasky (BS'68, OD'69), Arol Augsburger (BS'69, OD/MS'71), Paulette Schmidt (OD'73, MS'76), James Sheedy (OD/MS'74, PhD'77), Kevin Alexander (OD'76, MS'77, PhD'79), Joseph Barr (OD'77, MS'79, and Greg Good (OD'75, MS'79, PhD'81), just to name a few.

He certainly had many other proud moments, which included witnessing the profession of optometry undergo historic changes in its academic and credentialing standards, its scopes of practice, its research status, its humanitarian outreach, and its general acceptance as a true primary health care profession. He was a highly-respected leader in optometric education and served on many boards and committees for the American Optometric Association, the American Academy of Optometry, the Association of Schools and College of Optometry, and the National Board of Examiners in Optometry.

Emeritus Dean Richard M. Hill was Dr. Hebbard’s immediate successor, and said, “Dean Hebbard had a remarkable life and was a strong influence in the development of our profession. He will be remembered as a visionary and leader of high standards.”

At the time of his retirement in 1988, Dean Emeritus Hebbard told a Lantern staff writer:

“I’ve always enjoyed the university’s atmosphere. The students at Ohio State are very fine young people…. One of the blessings in my life is I have had a career I truly enjoy…. My job (has been) my hobby; if you enjoy your job, you don’t need another hobby.”

“I’ve always enjoyed the university’s atmosphere. The students at Ohio State are very fine young people…. One of the blessings in my life is I have had a career I truly enjoy.”

Frederick Hebbard, OD, PhD

In his memory, donations to the Frederick A. and Betty L. Hebbard Memorial Fund at The Ohio State University College of Optometry are appreciated.

Please visit:giveto.osu.edu/makeagift/?fund=603051or call 614-292-2100 for more information.

Richard Hill, OD, PhD, Frederick Hebbard, OD, PhD, Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD, John Schoessler (OD’66, MS’68, PhD’71), and Melvin Shipp, OD, MPH, DrPH at the centenial celebration in 2014

Marvin Whitman (BS’49), Frederick Hebbard, OD, PhD, Timothy Kime (BS’61) and Barb Kime at the centennial celebration in 2014.

OPTOMETRY ALUMNI MAGAZINE 11

COLLEGE NEWS

Young ODs Share Award

VISION FOR FUTURE By Sarah Cupples, MA Director of Marketing and Communications

Lauren Haverly (OD’14) and Molly McDonald (OD’12) first teamed up on the ice more than 20 years ago as part of the “Squirt A” girls’ hockey team in Minnesota. This year, they were recognized together for their teamwork organizing young optometrists and were named the Minnesota Optometric Association’s 2016 Young Optometrists of the Year.

“This award is special not because Molly and I are getting recognized, but that the Young OD group we started in Minnesota is getting recognized,” explains Dr. Haverly. “We realize our generation needs to leave our stamp on optometry and the best way to do it is together. We're standing on the shoulders of giants, and we now have an opportunity to make optometry better for the next generation.”

“It was a real honor to be the co-recipient of the Young OD of the Year award,” adds Dr. McDonald. “I didn't expect it because I haven't really felt anything I have done was ‘work!’ I have sincerely enjoyed working

with my colleagues to help keep our profession moving forward legislatively. Government and politics have always interested me, and this group has been a way for young people to get involved and feel like we have a voice. I think if young people (including myself) feel like you can actually get something done, we happily get involved!”

Their passion for optometry began at a young age. Dr. McDonald's father, Anthony McDonald, OD, influenced both women to pursue optometry.

“Molly’s father was the first optometrist I knew and was a great example,” says Dr. Haverly. “Through him, I could tell optometry was a fulfilling profession.”

In fact, Dr. McDonald knew from the age of two that she wanted to be an optometrist. “I was running around the office in my diaper saying I was going to be just like my dad one day,” she says.

Both women graduated from Lakeville High School – Dr.

Molly McDonald (OD’12) and Lauren Haverly (OD’14)

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COLLEGE NEWS

Haverly went on to the University of Minnesota to study biology, and Dr. McDonald attended Cornell University to study nutritional sciences. They came back together at Ohio State to study optometry, albeit two years apart. Their Lakeville bond remained strong.

After graduation, they returned home to Minnesota – Dr. McDonald to join her family’s practice, McDonald Family Eye Care, and Dr. Haverly to join Apple Valley Eye Care.

Minnesota and Ohio are quite similar for optometrists. Dr. Haverly jokes that it’s always about 10 degrees colder, and they have more lakes in Minnesota, but seriously notes that patients want to see well and look good in their glasses and contact lenses; but, the contact lens prescriptions last two years, so they spend a lot of time educating patients on the importance of adhering to the replacement schedule and getting an ocular health assessment regularly.

Dr. Haverly returns to Ohio often, as her in-laws live in Vermillion. She and her wife, Jess, make it down to Columbus about once a year. Their ideal Columbus visit would include catching a Buckeyes game, walking through Goodale Park where they used to bring their dog daily, sampling every flavor of Jeni’s ice cream, and ending the evening with a beer on the Union’s patio.

Dr. McDonald doesn’t make it back to Columbus quite as often. She and her husband were married September 24 and are settling in as newlyweds. They have a dog and are involved in Rotary, the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce, and mentor groups.

Coincidentally, this is not the first major award Dr. Haverly and Dr. McDonald have both received. As high school hockey players, they received The Herb Brooks Award, a character and service award.

Dr. Haverly was thrilled to receive the Young OD award jointly. “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she says. what “I appreciate most about Molly is that even though her parents started the optometry clinic she works in, she has always put in more than enough effort to ‘make it herself.’ While it is advantageous to have a family connection, Molly doesn’t rely on it to forge her career. She has made her career herself.”

Dr. McDonald echoes Dr. Haverly's feelings. “Lauren has always worked with passion, compassion, motivation - with humor and enthusiasm. It's contagious. It's nice to be honored with another Lakevillian!”

These young ODs see a bright future for optometry. Dr. Haverly would like to be a partner in a practice, but more importantly, she wants to have an honest patient-doctor relationship with her patients. She looks forward to seeing them on a year-to-year basis and sharing their triumphs and disappointments.

On a large scale, she adds, “I would love to see amblyopia completely eradicated and binocular vision/vision therapy get more acknowledgement from our colleagues in other health professions.”

Dr. McDonald's immediate future holds additions – her sister will join the family practice, and their new building is under construction, set to open in September 2017. She is excited to be serving the community in which she was raised.

“Our Vision Therapy practice is serving 80-90 patients per week, and our Sports Vision Program is flourishing,” says Dr. McDonald. “Our Sports Vision program has been a really fun way to keep in touch with my inner athlete!”

Molly McDonald (OD’12) and Lauren Haverly (OD’14) in high school playing hockey

Drs. McDonald and Haverly at their mentor program for youth girls hockey.

OPTOMETRY ALUMNI MAGAZINE 13

COLLEGE NEWS

Glasses or contacts? Lauren: Spectacles until Dailies Total 1 comes out with a toric lens

Molly: Depends

Nickname?Lauren: Lolo, Lolinator

Molly: MollDoll or Muffin

Age of first eye exam?Lauren: I actually don't know. But my boss, Pat Wellik (OD'89) gave me an eye exam when I was nine years old!

Molly: Not sure!

Pet peeve? Lauren: Put something back where you found it

Molly: Rude people

Cats or Dogs? Lauren: Dogs; although who doesn't love a good cat video online?

Molly: Dogs

Who is your optometrist? Lauren: Roman Gerber, ICO’11.

Molly: My pops!

Hobbies?Lauren: Spending time with my dog and family. I love seeing her bolt after tennis balls and squirrels. Football season is pretty electrifying to me, too. Music; it brings people together. Everyone in my family plays an instrument, and on Christmas Eve we Skype friends to play them carols.

Molly: Kickball and hockey

What’s the last thing you Googled? Lauren: Where is the best place to tailgate on the Madison campus (for the Buckeye game)?

Molly: TZ anthem

What’s your go-to karaoke song? Lauren: Anything Britney Spears

Molly: I’m tone deaf …

Favorite quote? Lauren: Ok, I have a few! "Thoughts become things." "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." "Sleet makes waves."

Molly: "Give more than you expect."

Who inspires you? Lauren: My parents for working their tails off, Ellen DeGeneres for spreading love, and Dr. Karla Zadnik because I'm not sure when she sleeps.

Molly: My dad

Advice for other Young ODs?Lauren: Talk to your friends about what we do in our profession; why do people still go to the ER for a foreign body removal or a recurrent corneal erosion? They just don't know what our training really entails. We didn't learn skills to never be able to use them. Why do parents think the screening at schools are sufficient? It’s not that they want to be negligent, they simply don't know. The only way we can increase the awareness of our patients and thus overall health of our community is if we spread the word.

Molly: Get involved. Your state optometric association is the place to let your voice be heard. I personally feel many times in politics (which we know so much of medicine has become political) my issues fall on deaf ears or I feel that I am not able to make a difference. With a small but powerful group, you have the ability to make a difference. Also, your state association is the place to meet and get to know your colleagues. From young new grads that are going thru similar adventures with you to the "old docs" who have the experience, knowledge, and expertise to help you navigate this thing we call a PRACTICE! They help make you feel like you're not alone, they get you informed on issues you may have not experienced (yet), and they are there to help bounce ideas to work through a problem that most of your non-optometry friends would NOT begin to understand.

Rapid-fire questions:

Pat Wellik (OD'89) (Dr. Haverly's boss), Molly McDonald (OD’12), Lauren Haverly (OD’14), and Jess Haverly doing O-H-I-O!

14 FALL 2016

COLLEGE NEWS

Welcoming the

CLASS OF 2020

On Friday, August 19, 66 future leaders of the optometry profession began their journey toward the OD degree. After successfully distinguishing themselves from nearly 600 applicants during the admissions process, the class of 2020 boasts an average GPA of 3.64, the highest entering average GPA of any optometry school in the country, and an average OAT total science score of 337. The class comprises of 38 women and 28 men, as well as 24 out-of-state students and 42 students from Ohio.

With the College of Optometry’s first orientation mobile app to guide them, the Class of 2020 participated in orientation activities designed to help them learn what it means to be a professional student, experience the College of Optometry family, and gain exposure to resources needed to be a successful student. Highlights included an inspiring welcome message from Dean Karla Zadnik OD, PhD, a session led by current students Kevin Rodda (’18) and Christi Locke (’19) on the classroom experience and study skills, and the annual Welcome Dinner, featuring keynote speaker Jason Miller (OD’99), President of the Ohio Optometric Association. New students also participated in an Interprofessional Education and Practice (IPEP) seminar with over a thousand fellow new students from Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, and Veterinary Medicine.

In addition to the orientation mobile app, new to this year’s orientation program was an opportunity for students to participate in a DISC (dominance, influence, steadiness, conscientiousness) workshop. DISC is a personal assessment tool used to increase self-awareness and improve effectiveness in learning, managing stress, teamwork, and communication style. Also, in an effort be more proactive in supporting new students through the transition to professional school, orientation no longer ends when classes begin, In fact, it’s just the beginning! The Class of 2020 will participate in an ongoing orientation program called OptomEyes throughout the fall semester. OptomEyes included practical strategies to maintain physical and mental health as a student as well as an exploration of cultural competence in the Optometry profession and a more in-depth look at important campus resources.

Welcome Class of 2020! We are beyond excited to be lifetime partners in your optometry career!

By Jennifer Bennett, MSEd, Director of Student Affairs

Selfie booth pics!

Monica Braun and Bridget Lorenz

Dillon Fullenwider and Kevin Mar

Emily Zimmermann and Sarah Gray

OPTOMETRY ALUMNI MAGAZINE 15

COLLEGE NEWS

By Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD

Inaugural Westheimer Lecture:

SUSAN A. COTTER, OD, MS

Dr. Sue Cotter, Professor of Optometry at the Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO) at Marshall B. Ketchum University received the Glenn A. Fry Medal, which is awarded to individuals who have truly distinguished themselves with long and exemplary records of vision research. On September 1, she delivered the inaugural Gerald Westheimer Endowed Lecture at The Ohio State University College of Optometry. Dr. Cotter is a pediatric optometrist and clinician-scientist with primary research interests related to clinical management of strabismus, amblyopia, other binocular vision disorders, and refractive error.

Dr. Cotter received her Doctor of Optometry degree from the Illinois College of Optometry, completed a pediatric vision residency at SCCO, and received her Master’s degree in Clinical and Biomedical Investigations from the University of Southern California. She has served in leadership positions for the National Eye Institute (NEI)-funded Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG), a clinical research network of pediatric optometrists and ophthalmologists. She served as a co-investigator and principal player for other NEI-funded studies including the Multi-Ethnic Pediatric Eye Disease Study, the Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Ethnicity and Refractive Error, the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT), and the CITT-Attention and Reading Trial.

Dr. Cotter is currently a member of the American Academy of Optometry’s Board of Directors, where she is a Diplomate in Binocular Vision, Perception, and Pediatric Optometry.

Thanks to the generosity of Gerald Westheimer (PhD ’53), who in 2015 endowed the lecture to accompany every awarding of the Fry Medal in perpetuity, the audience sat enthralled as Dr. Cotter described her research trajectory and lessons learned along the way. Dean Karla Zadnik (OD, PhD) introduced her as “a wonder—possessing boundless energy, deeply held principles, superior intelligence, a sense of humor, and an unparalleled ability to communicate…. The optometric profession is lucky she chose it, and children with vision problems—those she cares for directly and those her research affects—are even luckier.”

Highlights of her talk included research tips (recruitment in clinical studies is the first step and vital to the ultimate success of the project) and the value of collaboration. She described the outcomes from many important PEDIG studies. She told the audience a series of stories and led them along her own path of clinical knowledge development.

16 FALL 2016

By Barbara Fink, OD, MS’85, PhD’87)

I-DOC Pays Dividends

In 2016, we had 182 applications for 20 positions in the I-DOC program. The 20 students who participated this year came from 13 different states. Their average GPA was 3.62. Six I-DOC alumni applied to Ohio State’s College of Optometry this year, and four were admitted and enrolled into the Class of 2020: Fanita Muñiz, Isaiah Jordan, Stevie Njeru, and Mawada Osman. They are currently deep into their first semester, engrossed in their coursework.

Our I-DOC alumni have fascinating backgrounds and contribute to the diversity and excellence of the Class of 2020. Here’s a brief look into their backgrounds.

Fanita was born in Honduras. Her mother was from Honduras and her father, of German-American background, was born in the U.S. They met as pen pals; her father moved to Honduras, anticipating that he would live there, and that is where Fanita was born. When Fanita was a sophomore at the University of Central Florida, she took a course that provided an overview of the health professions, thinking she wanted to be a medical doctor. She investigated several health professions by attending meetings of their student organizations, including the pre-optometry club. She participated in a field trip to the Vistakon laboratory, which provided a tour of the facility and overview of

COLLEGE NEWS

Improving Diversity in Optometric Careers (I-DOC) celebrated its tenth anniversary this year. Since 2007, underrepresented minority undergraduate students have been invited to participate in this intensive, residential, hands-on experience in optometry. This recruitment effort reinforces the desire to enter the profession of optometry in many participants, and it introduces other students to the profession who might not have previously considered optometry as a career. I-DOC alumni have matriculated into and graduated from schools and colleges of optometry nationwide.

I-DOC alumni Stevie Njeru (’20), Mawada Osman (’20), Fanita Gutt Muñiz (’20) and Isaiah Jordan (’20)

OPTOMETRY ALUMNI MAGAZINE 17

“I want to be here. I can do this.” Fanita Muñiz

“Information about vision disorders, eye anatomy, topography, hands-on work with equipment, the tour of VSP, research stations where investigators talked about cutting edge research in vision science, being with people that look like me—everything! I was glad to realize that increasing diversity matters to Ohio State.”

Isaiah Jordan

COLLEGE NEWS

contact lens manufacturing. As a result, she chose optometry. She applied to two pre-optometry programs: I-DOC at Ohio State and Focus on Your Future at the Illinois College of Optometry. Because Ohio State pays for all expenses through a grant from VSP, and the program at ICO required participants to pay for their own travel, Fanita only attended I-DOC. The I-DOC program convinced her that Ohio State was where she wanted to study optometry. She enjoyed getting to know the faculty, staff, and students at Ohio State and was impressed with the campus and resources. She found Ohio State to be very welcoming. I-DOC made optometry real, with hands-on activities in the actual classrooms and laboratories. She realized, “I want to be here. I can do this.”

Isaiah was born and raised in Columbus and attended Grove City schools. Musical skills and talents shaped his intent to have a career in music; however, when he started auditioning for various colleges, he found it to be too competitive and lacked job stability. He attended Wright State University because of the scientific research it does in connection with Wright Patterson Air Force Base. It was there that he became interested in optometry. He always enjoyed going to his optometrist and was impressed with the equipment, office, and patient care. He also has relatives with vision problems: his grandmother had a benign tumor behind her eye, and a 40-year-old cousin is bilaterally blind from diabetic retinopathy. He learned about I-DOC at the College of Optometry Open House and a dinner with Jackie Davis (OD’81, MPH) and Barbara Fink (OD, MS’85, PhD’87). I-DOC solidified his desire to be an optometrist. I-DOC put everything together for him—the connection between eye anatomy, vision disorders, and the equipment used in the eye exam.

When asked about what he liked best about I-DOC, he replied, “Information about vision disorders, eye anatomy, topography, hands-on work with equipment, the tour of VSP, research stations where investigators talked about cutting edge research in vision science, being with people that look like me—everything! I was glad to realize that increasing diversity matters to Ohio State.” Isaiah wants to specialize in vision therapy for children and geriatric optometry. He plans to have a family business. His sister is getting a nurse practitioner degree to work in a retirement home, where he wants to

provide the vision care. His mother is ready to serve as business manager for the practice.

Steven (Stevie) is one of four children; he has two sisters and a brother. His parents and his two older sisters were born in Kenya, and he was born in Florida. Stevie became interested in optometry during his sophomore year at the University of Central Florida, where he was a pre-med major. He participated in the pre-optometry club there with Fanita and introduced her to the pre-optometry summer programs at Ohio State and ICO. Stevie attended both pre-optometry summer programs. The best part of I-DOC for Stevie was the opportunity to be with other people who were interested in optometry and ask them about how they were preparing. He enjoyed getting to know the other I-DOC participants and the experiences they had shadowing optometrists. He also enjoyed the mock interview, talking to optometry students, and learning more about how to prepare for the optometry application and interview. He was also amazed at how tough the cornea is when he performed the cow eye dissection. Stevie is impressed with the opportunities Ohio State offers as a large university that has multiple health professions colleges.

18 FALL 2016

“I loved how it brings people from all different states—and countries—together to share one thing they have in common, optometry and the love of vision science.”

Mawada Osman

Four members of the Class of 2020 in a group photo from I-DOC 2015. Circled L to R: Mawada Osman, Isaiah Jordan, Steven Njeru and Fanita Gutt Muñiz

COLLEGE NEWS

Mawada will be the first doctor in her family. Neither of her parents received a college education. The family is from Sudan, and they moved to Gahanna, Ohio when Mawada was in 10th grade. She went to Lincoln High School and found the education system different from what she had experienced in Sudan. The Ohio Graduation Test was challenging, and she had to put a lot of effort into preparing for the English section. She is the middle of five girls in the family and has two older sisters who already graduated from Ohio State, which is where she completed her undergraduate work. Mawada decided on optometry in 10th grade due to a class project that involved looking into careers. She investigated medical fields and was impressed with optometry. During her junior year at Ohio State, she talked to Justin Griest, the Director of Admissions, Recruitment, and Financial Aid at the College of Optometry. He encouraged her to apply for the I-DOC program, which she enjoyed immensely.

“I loved how it brings people from all different states—and countries—together to share one thing they have in common, optometry and the love of vision science,” she said. She particularly enjoyed visiting the VSP Ophthalmics laboratory in Lockbourne, Ohio, as well as the cow eye dissection.

The only recommendation that Fanita, Isaiah, Stevie, and Mawada had for improving I-DOC was to make it longer so there would be enough time to explore the city and Ohio State campus more. We look forward to increasing the number of participants in I-DOC to 30 for the 2017 program, and we are confident that we will continue to encourage impressive underrepresented minority students to enter optometry.

OPTOMETRY ALUMNI MAGAZINE 19

COLLEGE NEWS

By Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD

2016 MYERS LECTURE Benjamin Returns to Alma Mater

The Ohio State University College of Optometry was graced by William J. “Joe” Benjamin (BS’77, OD/MS’79, PhD’82), the 2016 Jeffrey and Joyce Myers Lecturer. Dr. Benjamin delivered an astute lecture, “Hyperpermeability, Hyperosmolarity, and Contact Lens ‘Future Oxyopia,’” to a rapt audience of faculty, graduate students, and special guests, Rick (OD’79) and Mary Elizabeth Billman and Dean Emeritus Dick, OD, PhD and Lee Hill.

Dean Karla Zadnik introduced Dr. Benjamin. She praised the Myerses for their foresight in establishing the lecture series—the mark of an influential institution. She mentioned his role in the Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus (CLEK) Study, where she had a chance to observe how Dr. Benjamin’s research staff interacted with him. She described them as having “deep respect, deeper affection, utter confidence, and high trust,” all characteristics that typify the community’s regard for him.

The lecture covered the measurement of the oxygen properties of contact lenses, the paradoxical hyperosmolarity of soft contact lenses on the eye, and the role of contact lenses in myopia control. Dr. Benjamin has always been a deep thinker, and his presentation creatively posed tough future research questions for contact lens educators.

Joyce Myers, Joe Benjamin (BS’77, OD/MS’79, PhD'82) and Jeff Myers (OD’84)

Dr. Benjamin had the opportunity to express his gratitude to Dean Emeritus Dick Hill, OD, PhD, who he considers to be one of his mentors. L to R: Lee Hill, Dr. Benjamin, Dr. Hill

Dr. Benjamin’s lecture is available at:go.osu.edu/myers2016

20 FALL 2016

COLLEGE NEWS

College of Optometry

PLANNING MAJOR RENOVATIONS

By Gilbert E. Pierce (OD’89, MS’92, PhD’94)

The College of Optometry is planning major renovations to the first floor and basement of the central part of Fry Hall, sometimes known as “Old Fry” or the “Fry Hall Bridge.”

Originally constructed in 1951, the central portion of Fry Hall has undergone several renovations; the most recent large one being converting the old first floor classroom (119) into the patient reception area, the Topaz Memorial Library to the optical dispensary (now the HOYA Eyewear Gallery), and the ground floor student mailrooms and museum into a new classroom (Room 22). This last renovation occurred in the late 1990s.

The current plan will involve several improvements. The plan will involve big changes to the front of Fry Hall, including extending the front forward toward Tenth Avenue and modernizing and beautifying the front entrance. The plan is to retain the brick and add more modern accents to the front of the building. The biggest part of the first floor plan will be moving the Eyewear Gallery to the front of the building with large windows to increase street presence and exposure for Optometry Services.

On the inside, the HOYA Eyewear Gallery will be surrounded by glass walls, again to improve visibility for

patients and visitors already in the building. Additionally, the plan may include one or more skylights near the entrance to further improve the natural light. The plan is also likely to include additional vision therapy rooms on the first floor and moving the clinic billing office from the second floor of Starling Loving Hall to the first floor of Fry Hall.

The basement of Fry Hall will also undergo some changes. The classroom (Room 22), Anatomy Lab (Room 19), and Optics Labs (Rooms 3 and 8) and student lounge areas (Room 11) will all likely be renovated. During construction, swing space will be needed, either in nearby College of Medicine buildings or within our own building, for these important teaching spaces. The HOYA Eyewear Gallery will be relocated temporarily to the first floor of Starling Loving Hall, and separate check-in areas will be temporarily set up in both Fry and Starling-Loving ( just like the old days!).

We have hired an architectural firm for the project. The tentative plan is for construction to begin in the autumn of 2017 and to be completed in autumn of 2018. Come see the new face of Fry Hall for the Alumni Tailgate in 2019!

OPTOMETRY ALUMNI MAGAZINE 21

COLLEGE NEWS

Congratulations to Assistant Professor of Optometry T.J. Plageman, PhD, on the award of his new National Eye Institute grant, Characterizing the fundamental mechanisms of epithelial invagination during ocular morphogenesis! With this five-year, $1.93 million award, Dr. Plageman will investigate the mechanics of cell behaviors in embryos to better understand the epithelial invagination that occurs early in the development of the eye. A fuller understanding of this developmental process may lead to insights into the ocular structural defects that alter vision.

Recently published research from the lab of Professor Teng Leng Ooi, PhD, shows that your height affects your ability to accurately locate a target at mid-distance, thus suggesting that taller people have better spatial relations. She found that taller individuals are better able to locate a green LED target light in a pitch dark room, whether or not dim red LED markers on the floor or ceiling were present as a reference. This advantage remained when tall subjects were seated and short subject stood on a box. LED reference markers placed on the floor were more useful as references, lending support to the idea that we use the visual texture of the ground to determine the distance to objects. The research was published in Science Advances and was supported by a grant from National Institutes of Health/ National Eye Institute.

WILDERMUTH OPTOMETRIC RESEARCH CLINIC

RESEARCH ROUNDUPBy Karla Gengler-Nowak, PhD, CRA Grants and Contracts Administrator

T.J. Plageman, PhD22 FALL 2016

Born a Buckeye, Always a Buckeye:

AN INTERVIEW WITH JOE BARR

What has your career been like?After I completed the two year cornea-contact lens MS-fellowship program, I was the Contact Lens Clinic Chief for one year. Then my wife, Janet, and I moved off behind enemy lines to Midland in that state up north where I worked for Dow Corning helping launch silicone contact lenses. I returned to Ohio State in 1983 as faculty. In 2007, I joined Bausch + Lomb and was with them until July 2014. I worked with a wonderful team there, including some other great Ohio State colleagues, and we helped to turn the company around. I left the company to come back to the college for two major reasons – less travel and more time with Janet and our five grandchildren (and my golf game must improve).

What did you learn working for industry that you bring to Ohio State?Bausch + Lomb was a great experience. I was involved with introducing novel new contact lenses and solutions and pharmaceuticals. I helped with the company Pediatric Cataract Initiative philanthropy and traveled the world working with great colleagues. I really got to be involved at a very high level in serving on the company’s top 50 Operating Team. I worked with some of the best business leaders in health care.

By Karla Gengler-Nowak, PhD, CRA, Grants and Contracts Administrator

What do you want to accomplish now that you are back at Ohio State?Dean Zadnik and I want to see the college be consistently more involved in helping companies bring new technology to optometry and eye health care. Our team’s vision is to bring Innovation through Collaboration with industry in Eye Health and Vision. I want to build a team who can carry on this work far in to the future so our students and alumni and profession can bring ever-better care to their patients. We want to be on the leading edge of new product development. Projects we have worked on or are starting include reformulated lipid eye drops, new contact lens designs and solution, dry eye pharmaceuticals, and even eye washes. I am doing this work with Jennifer Fogt (OD’99) and Matthew Kowalski, who will be able to take this work into the future.

What does it mean to you to be a Buckeye?Being a Buckeye to me means extending the family tradition started by my siblings attending Ohio State, continuing the legacy of bringing translational research to the profession from the college, continuing the living legend of our Class of 1977 Episcotister basketball team, and inspiring my colleagues and students to continue what we have carried on from my grandfather, one of the first faculty of the college, hired by Dr. Charles Sheard, program director.

One of the research goals in the College of Optometry is to help companies bring new technology to optometry and eye health care. The leader of this effort is Joe Barr (OD’77, MS’79), who returned to The Ohio State University after working for Bausch + Lomb for seven years. We spoke with him about his career and his motivations for coming back to the college.

COLLEGE NEWS

OPTOMETRY ALUMNI MAGAZINE 23

DEVELOPMENT

RECORD BREAKING FUNDRAISING University Completes But for Ohio State Campaign

By Rachel Childress, Director of Development

On September 30, the University completed its seven-year But for Ohio State campaign, announcing that it had raised more than $3 billion. The college had a $10 million goal and ultimately raised a total of $10,761,371 from more than 2,400 donors. We celebrated an abundance of major gifts at the $25,000-$50,000 level and 12 new commitments at $100,000 and above. Annual giving from all donors has gone from $500,000 in 2009 to more than $2 million in 2015.

Joyce Myers, Jeff Myers (OD’84), Bruce Manning (OD’81), and Joanne Manning

24 FALL 2016

John Archer (OD’75), Hannah Vollmer (’19), and Cheryl Archer (OD’84) at the Scholars' Dinner.

Jackie Davis (OD’81, MPH) and Jordan Claboine (’19) at a recent Scholars' Dinner

DEVELOPMENT

Now you may wonder, “What did the college do with all those dollars?”

• We increased scholarship dollars each year to our incoming and upper-class students. Last year we awarded nearly $200,000 to 65 recipients, which is $40,000 more than we gave out in the previous year. That’s nearly a quarter of our students.

• A third of what we raised was given to support research. Being part of Ohio State means that research is an integral part of our mission. In recent years, investigators identified outdoor activity as protective against myopia development, discovered that kids with uncorrected farsightedness lose ground on reading skills before first grade, and found that culture and language can influence color naming.

• We’ve focused on diversity and inclusion with our I-DOC (Improving Diversity of Optometric Careers) program, which admits 20-30 undergraduate students each year for an intensive three-day introduction to a career in optometry. We are seeing more and more I-DOC graduates applying and being accepted at optometric schools and colleges across the nation. We currently have 10 former I-DOC students in our program.

• Two floors of Fry Hall had major renovations. The Pre-Clinic on the second floor and the Low Vision and Pediatric areas on the first floor. Facilities go a long way in attracting prospective students, and these two spaces are highlights on all admissions tours. Named spaces and other facility commitments totaled more than $930,000.

• We hosted alumni and friends here in Columbus and around the country. An important part of what we do is to get out of our offices and meet those who support us. We welcome you at receptions at both the AOA and AAO conferences each year, travel near and far to meet and reconnect you with the college, and invite you back here to Columbus to join in reunion and homecoming weekends.

As this concludes, we want to offer special recognition to those members of our campaign committee who helped host events and dinners, discussed donor strategy and connected us with those that could make a significant impact. Thank you to:

Jeffrey Myers (OD’84) – Campaign Chair

Joseph Barr (OD’77, MS’79)

Richard Cornett

Michael Earley (OD/MS’88, PhD’92)

Bruce Manning (OD’81)

Melvin Shipp, OD, MPH, DrPH

Mary Jo Stiegemeier (OD’83)

Richard Weisbarth (OD’80)

Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD

At the beginning of this campaign we asked all of you to consider how you could help us create a culture of giving here at the college. THANK YOU for working with us to make this a reality. We look forward to the next opportunity to involve you in the future of the college. The photos below from a recent Scholars’ Dinner show grateful scholarship recipients connecting with generous donors.

OPTOMETRY ALUMNI MAGAZINE 25

DEVELOPMENT

WHY WE GIVE By Rachel Childress, Director of Development

The But for Ohio State Campaign concluded at the end of September, but that doesn’t mean that the giving comes to an end for the college. We need philanthropic support each year in order to continue to provide the best education possible to our students. During the time without an official campaign, we thought it would be a great opportunity to highlight a donor in each issue of the BuckEYE Magazine and tell you more about why they give to the college.

over a lifetime to provide the best eye care possible. Giving to the college is one way we can say thank you. It feels good.

We each came from modest means, so we understand financial hardship. We hope the scholarship helps lighten the financial burden of talented, caring individuals who are passionate about improving the visual welfare of the population.

In terms of our endowment gift to the college, we thought long and hard about it. It’s easy to give pocket change to the Salvation Army. It’s easy to give something equivalent to a nice meal out. When it comes to giving at the level we’ve chosen, one reflects on it in an entirely different way. It forces one to appreciate how much education has enriched life and allowed us to, in some part, improve quality of life for others.”

We are fortunate to have both Tom and Susan as our graduates, and we look forward to awarding this scholarship each year and sharing their story with their student recipients.

Thomas (OD’79, MS’81) and Susan (OD’82) Quinn

Tom and Susan Quinn have been integral parts of the College of Optometry and local and national optometric organizations since graduating from Ohio State. They have a thriving practice in Athens, Ohio with other optometry alumni who practice as their colleagues. We are grateful to have them as our alumni as they are true advocates for the value of an optometric education.

In December 2015, Tom and Susan made the decision to commit to a gift for the college. We discussed scholarships and the option of making a truly meaningful impact by participating in the Ohio Scholarship Challenge. This was a limited time opportunity to give a gift where the annual payout would be matched by the university in order to provide a significant scholarship to an optometry student fitting the criteria that they chose.

In the spring they endowed the Tom and Susan Quinn Endowed Scholarship in Optometry, which supports a student entering his or her third or fourth year who demonstrates financial need and a history of volunteerism.

When asked about why they made this gift and what it means to them this is what they shared:

“The Ohio State University College of Optometry provided both of us with a firm educational foundation, as well as inspirational mentors who’ve motivated us

26 FALL 2016

ALUMNI NEWS

IN MEMORIAM: William O. Schuller, Jr., BS’65, OD, MPH

William “Bill” Schuller (BS’65, OD, MPH) passed away on September 24 at his home in Chillicothe, after an extended illness. He was 75 years old.

Dr. Schuller graduated from Ohio State in 1965 with a BS-Optometry degree, and then served in the U.S. Air Force for three years. After his honorable discharge, he continued his education at the University of California, Berkeley where he earned the OD degree in 1969 and entered private practice in Castro Valley, CA, for one year. In 1970, he began a notable 11-year career in optometric education at The Ohio State University College of Optometry, the New England College of Optometry, and the University of Alabama in Birmingham School of Optometry. In 1981, he moved his career in optometric education to the Pacific Northwest, where he was Director of Optometry at the Seattle Indian Health Board and supervised rotating students from the Pacific

University College of Optometry.

He then transitioned his career again to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where he saw patients and continued to teach optometry students and residents for 16 years at two VA Medical Centers in Lebanon, PA, (affiliated with the Pennsylvania College of Optometry) and later at the Chillicothe VAMC (affiliated with Ohio State). Along the way, he earned a Master’s in Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University, and became a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. In 2002, he established the “John F. Schuller Scholarship Fund” for Ohio State Optometry students who work with visually impaired or legally blind patients. It was named for his brother, who was born legally blind from congenital glaucoma. After he retired from federal service in 2002, he was a part-time clinical instructor again at Ohio State from 2002 to 2007.

His legacy is the hundreds of students and residents he taught so well in various clinical settings for over 40 years. One of his former students, Steve Hansen (OD’92), summed up the thoughts of many when he said, “Dr. Schuller was clearly one of the most influential members of my clinical training at Ohio State and at the VA. He was a great teacher and served his students and his country well. He will be fondly remembered and missed.”

Memorial contributions may be made to the John F. Schuller Scholarship Fund

The Ohio State University Foundation 1480 West Lane Avenue

Columbus, OH 43221Note, please make checks out to The Ohio State University Foundation and write, “John F Schuller Scholarship” in the

memo or include the fund number 646412.

Allison Treleaven (OD’16), William “Bill” Schuller (BS’65, OD, MPH), and Tatevik Movsisyan (OD’16) at the Scholars' Dinner

By Bob Newcomb (OD’71, MPH)

OPTOMETRY ALUMNI MAGAZINE 27

ALUMNI NEWS

2016 Reunion WeekendThe Ohio State University College of Optometry

By Michael Haddock, Alumni Coordinator

Cayti McDaniel (OD/MS’08) led CE about concussions in sports and how optometry plays a role in the process [in one of the ballpark’s left field line suites]. Immediately following, the Office of Alumni Relations and Development hosted an Alumni Reception in another part of the ballpark for alumni to mingle with faculty, staff, classmates, and Dean Karla Zadnik. On Saturday morning, the college hosted a pregame tailgate before the Buckeyes took on Rutgers for the Homecoming football game. Similar to years past, the Ohio State Men’s Glee Club made an appearance, however this time, glee club alumnus Bob Newcomb (OD’71, MPH) was encouraged by the troupe to conduct and lead songs like “Hang On Sloopy” and “Carmen Ohio.” It was truly a great experience for all the 120 Buckeye Optometrists and their families who were able to attend.

This year, the College of Optometry changed the format of the Optometry Alumni Reunion, with a particular focus on how to enhance the Friday night CE and Alumni Reception. On Friday, September 30, the weeklong rain stopped just in time for more than 100 alumni to congregate at the Huntington Ballpark in the Arena District section of Downtown Columbus.

The Class of 2001 enjoyed reconnecting at the Alumni Reception.

The rain stopped just in time for the Alumni Reception at the Huntington Ballpark.28 FALL 2016

See you next year!

By Michael Haddock, Alumni Coordinator

Alumni “Hidden Benefits” Available

ALUMNI NEWS

Did you know? As an Ohio State University College of Optometry alumnus, you can access http://go.osu.edu/optometryebooks, which is an online database of optometric journals, research and studies through The Ohio State University Health Sciences Library. This link will provide you with numerous resources relating to vision science, optics and eye care. Additionally, through this link, you can navigate to the general University Libraries catalog to access millions of volumes of books ranging through all academic disciplines and medical subjects.

The Ohio State University Alumni Association (OSUAA) has been offering alumni tours since 1969. As an alumnus, you have access to experience high quality educational and cultural tours all across the country and the world! The Alumni Tour Services Team at OSUAA provides a range of trips spanning from land to sea, including backpacking across the beautiful Mediterranean, football-centered trip to opposing teams’ venues and the annual “Buckeye Cruise for Cancer,” which supports the Urban and Shelley Meyer Fund for Cancer Research. Learn more about how you can see the world with other Buckeyes at http://go.osu.edu/alumnitours.

This article is the first in a series about the countless benefits associated with being an Ohio State Optometry alumnus.

Although this weekend is over, we would like to address those who will be celebrating “milestone reunion years” coming up in 2017. If you are a class president or would like to volunteer to help coordinate your class’s reunion, please email haddock.15@osu.edu or call 614-688-1363. While every alumnus is invited to participate in Homecoming Weekend, the 2017 milestone reunion classes next year will be:

1977

2007

1992

1972

2002

1987

2012

1997

1982

Barcelona, Spain

OPTOMETRY ALUMNI MAGAZINE 29

ALUMNI NEWS

1960 Robert Wright (BS’60) served as the Presidential Chairman charged with planning the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in late September. Wright’s team produced the 2003 report titled, “The Time Has Come,” which outlined the administrative and creative vision for the $540 million facility.

1965 Phil Valentine (OD’65) retired after practicing in Sidney, Ohio for 48 years. He began his career as an Army doctor in Augusta, Georgia, and was spared from going overseas because there was a shortage of optometrists on his base. After three years, he left the service to begin practicing in Sidney. Dr. Valentine is active with his church, Sidney First United Methodist, has four children, 12 grandchildren, and is proud to call Sidney home. Congratulations on your retirement Dr. Valentine and best of luck on the new chapter in your life!

1998 David P. Nelson (OD’98) was elected president of the Wisconsin Optometric Association at the association’s 2016 annual convention and business meeting. Dr. Nelson will begin his new role January 1.

2000 Kerry Giedd (OD/MS’00) is partner at Eola Eyes, a private group practice in Orlando, Florida, which she co-founded in 2003. Their practice was recognized as one of CooperVision's inaugural class of the ten "Best Practices" in the U.S. for 2015. Dr. Giedd has also been recognized by Vision Monday as one of the Most Influential Women in Optical for 2016 and by the SBA as the Women in Business Champion of the Year for the state of Florida in 2012. In addition to private practice, Dr. Giedd serves as a principal investigator for clinical research trials for the contact lens industry and as a consultant to contact lens manufacturers. She is on the editorial board for Primary Care Optometry News and has been active in the American Academy of Optometry for many years, presently serving on the board directors for the American Optometric Foundation. Locally, she has served on the board of directors for the Lions Club Project Right to Sight since 2001 and is a partner of many organizations that provide eye care to homeless and underserved populations. She leads vision care mission trips to the Dominican Republic in partnership with Time Ministries and most recently traveled to the DR in November 2016 with her entire family, serving hundreds of patients in their five days of clinic. Anyone interested in a Christian vision care mission trip (families are welcome) is encouraged to join them in the future (contact KerryGieddOD@aol.com for more information)! Dr. Giedd and her husband and fellow OD, Brad Giedd (OD, MS’00), have three children, Lindsey (age 13), Brady (age 11), and Matthew (age 9), all of whom have been raised well as huge Ohio State Buckeye fans! Dr. Giedd wanted to recognize and express her utmost gratitude to Dr. Karla Zadnik, Dr. Joe Barr, and Dr. Mo Merchea, all of whom have been invaluable mentors in her career.

2003 Kevin Hamilton (OD’03) welcomed his third child, Andrew Edward, born on June 23, weighing in at 9 lbs., 6oz. He was welcomed by his big brother Jack and his big sister, Grace. Here he is sporting his new shirt from The Ohio State University College of Optometry.

2008 Liz McVey (OD’08) celebrated five years with Center For Sight, a multidisciplinary center for sight in southwest Florida. Below, she is pictured with her husband Sean and four children, Ciaran (age 7), Brady (age 5), Morgen (age 4), and Erie (age 2).

2009 Stephanie Mastores (OD’09) has won two awards in her short years of optometric practice in Arizona. In 2010, Stephanie won the “Optometry Rookie of the Year” award at Nationwide Vision (local AZ retail chain with 50 offices) in Chandler, AZ. On April 22, Stephanie was chosen as the Arizona Optometric Association's Young Optometrist of the Year at a ceremony at their state meeting in Tucson, AZ.

2014 Ann Morrison (OD’14, MS'16) received the 2016 Terrance N. Ingraham Pediatric Optometry Residency Award, including a $2,000 monetary award and a $750 travel grant to attend the American Academy of Optometry’s annual meeting in Anaheim. Dr. Morrison received this award and plaque during the conference at the American Optometric Foundation Celebration luncheon on November 12.

Please send Alumni News items to Michael Haddock, Alumni Coordinator, at haddock.15@osu.edu

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Raymond Carson (BS’54) passed away on September 3, 2016. He was 86.

Born in Portsmouth in 1930, Ray Carson graduated from Portsmouth East High School in 1947 and served in the U.S. Army from 1948-49. He attended Ohio University-Portsmouth before attending The Ohio State University School of Optometry and graduating in 1954. After graduation, he returned to Portsmouth and opened up his own private practice before starting Portsmouth Vision Center. He retired in 2012, after serving the Portsmouth community for 58 years.

Outside of his love for serving his patients (he even visited the office after his retirement), Dr. Carson was an active community leader, serving as an officer of the Mercy Hospital Advisory Board, the Scioto County Mental Health Association, the American Red Cross; Vice President of the Ohio State Jaycees; past governor of the Ohio Lions Club and past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Shawnee State College.

His obituary in the Portsmouth Daily Times stated that “Ray’s energy and optimism were contagious. His positive outlook and his kind, good-natured personality were obvious in all aspects of his life. The love and dedication to his family, his patients, and his community will be missed by all who were a part of his life.”

Dr. Carson is survived by his daughter, Kelly Carson Raies (OD'88) and son-in-law, Michael Raies (OD'89).

Clyde Oyster (BS’63), passed away on September 8, 2016. He was 76.

Clyde Oyster graduated from Marietta High School and Marietta College, before obtaining his BS in Optometry from The Ohio State School of Optometry in 1963. He then earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of California, Berkeley and completed post-doctoral work in Australia and the Netherlands. Dr. Oyster and his wife, Dr. Ellen Takahashi, were both professors in physiological optics at the School of Optometry at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. They collaborated on numerous research documents, specifically a scientific textbook he wrote called The Human Eye, which is used at schools and colleges of optometry all across the country.

Aside from teaching and research, Clyde enjoyed traveling the world with his wife, was a voracious reader, loved to watch and study birds, build elaborate models and view art. Upon his retirement, he was a docent at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

Harvey Fishman (OD’68) passed away on October 13. He was 76.

Harvey Fishman was raised in Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from The Ohio State University College of Optometry in 1968. Upon graduation, Dr. Fishman returned to Cleveland, where he served the community for 30 years, before retiring to Dunnellon, Florida. He was a fan of bridge and was passionate about animals, especially his service dog Ronee and other dog Sebastian. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, and survived by his wife of 26 years, Debby.

In Memoriam

Harry Fagedes (BS’54) passed away on August 5, 2016. He was 85.

A native of Cincinnati, Dr. Fagedes graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1949 and attended The Ohio State University. In 1954, he graduated with his optometry degree and entered the U.S. Navy, where he served on the U.S.S. Intrepid as a communications officer during the Korean War. After returning from overseas, Dr. Fagedes came back to Ohio and established a practice in downtown Cincinnati and Price Hill. He was active in the community providing community outreach eye care and serving as the President of the Ohio Optometric Association. He also had a passion for business, as he obtained his MBA from Xavier University, which led him to becoming a founding member and board member of Diversified Ophthalmics and later Indiana Ophthalmics. In addition to his career, Harry was interested in music, boating, skiing, hiking the Appalachian Trail, and playing poker with his friends.

Dr. Carson and Dr. Fagedes pictured together at the Centennial celebration in 2014.

ALUMNI NEWS

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